Bhopal:Wednesday, September 24, 2008:The Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the Kotwars of forest villages contribute significantly to conservation and augmentation of forest wealth in the state.
Shri Chouhan announced that Kotwars would also be appointed in remaining 640 forest villages of the state. At present, Kotwars are posted at only 266 forest villages out of 906 forest villages of the state. Shri Chouhan was addressing a Convention of Kotwars of forest villages at Ravindra Bhawan here today.
Chief Minister’s Announcements
During the convention, the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan made a number of announcements in order to motivate the forest village Kotwars to discharge their duties more sincerely, efficiently and devotedly. These are as under:
Kotwars to be appointed at 640 forest villages of the 906 forest villages
Honorarium at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month would be paid to the forest village Kotwars.
The forest village Kotwars would too be provided two pairs of uniform every year alike revenue village Kotwars.
Now, forest village Kotwars would also be provided one pair of raincoat, torch, belt and spear once a year.
All the forest village Kotwars would be provided bicycles.
Forest Department would bear the entire expenditure made on the treatment of forest village Kotwars on sustaining injuries in attack by wild animals.
Ex gratia amount of Rs. one lakh would be paid to the family members/dependents of forest village Kotwars on their death during attack by wild animal or protection of forests.
Wards of forest village Kotwars also to get admission to all the hostels meant for the children of forest personnel.
Unveiling of Two Processing Units
On this occasion, the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan unveiled the foundation stone of the Bamboo Based Common Facility Centre proposed to be set up at Balaghat under the Sphoorti Yojana. Shri Chouhan also unveiled the foundation stone of the an Aonla Murabba and Aonla Sharbat Processing Unit, Bijawar of district union Chhatarpur.
In his address, the Forest Minister Shri Vijay Shah threw light on the role of forest village Kotwars in forest conservation and their augmentation. Shri Shah pointed out that for the first time since the formation of the State, the promotional avenues have been opened up right from the lower level to the higher level by creating new posts bringing about radical changes in the set up of the Forest Department.
The Chairman, Rajya Laghu Vanopaj Sangh, Shri Vishwas Sarang and the Principal Conservator in Chief, Dr. P.B. Gangopadhyay made a mention of the progress and achievements registered by the Vanopaj Sangh ever since it came into existence.
Prior to this, the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan felicitated Kotwar Shri Hiralal Borse from Ranipur (Betul) presenting him a shawl and a ballam (spear). Forest Kotwar Shri Karwar from Khandwa district expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister for increasing the honorarium of forest village Kotwars.
Earlier, Forest Minister, Shri Vijay Shah welcomed the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan by presenting him a sapling of Bel. The Principal Secretary, Forests, Shri Prashant Mehta; Managing Director, Rajya Laghu Vanopaj Sangh, Shri R.K. Dave; Forest Advisor, Shri V.R. Khare; Managing Director, State Forest Development Corporation, Shri R.S. Negi and Conservator of Bhopal Forest Division, Dr. A.K. Bhattacharya and a large number of forest village Kotwars from all across the state were present on the occasion.